REDWOOD CITY, CA – San Mateo County's Chief Elections Officer, Warren Slocum, announced today his plan for election night reporting of voting results for the Presidential General Election on Tuesday, November 2, 2004.

Public Reception at "Election Central"

Community members, candidates and media representatives are invited to mingle at the Election Division's departmental headquarters at 555 County Center in Redwood City. Periodic vote reports, internet access, and television coverage will be provided, along with light refreshments. Elections staff will be on hand to answer questions. 555 County Center is situated on the corner of Middlefield Road and Bradford Street (now known as County Center Street). There will be free street parking in front of 555 County Center. The best access is via Veterans Blvd, simply turn onto Jefferson, then turn right on Bradford, cross Middlefield and park. Additional parking will be available in the adjacent garage or lots which are accessed from Veterans Blvd with a turn onto Middlefield—a right hand turn puts you in the lots and the garage. (Traffic has been rerouted due to the Peterson trial.)

Reporting Schedule

All polling sites will close at 8:00 PM on election night. The first vote report will be issued at 8:05 p.m., reflecting only absentee votes. The next report at 8:30 p.m. will include vote counts from the 22 precincts where all voters cast their ballots by mail. Beginning at 9:00 p.m., and every 30 minutes thereafter, the reports will also include available vote counts from individual precincts, until all precincts have reported.

Online Reports

These periodic reports will be available online at the San Mateo County Elections Office website at www.shapethefuture.org. Reports will be posted shortly after the times listed above. The reports will be available for printing in both HTML and Adobe PDF formats.

Elections Staff Assistance Available

Until precinct reporting is complete on election night, staff will be available to answer questions. The Elections Division office at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo is open weekdays from 8: 00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You may call (650)312-5222 or visit www.shapethefuture.org for additional information.

Absentee Ballots Accepted Until 8:00 PM on Election Night

All registered San Mateo County voters who have applied for and received an absentee ballot by mail, may return the voted absentee ballot at any polling place within the county until 8:00 p.m. on election night. Other registered voters who have not applied for an absentee ballot and find themselves unable to vote at their assigned polling place may vote by absentee ballot, but only at one of the two Elections Division offices: 40 Tower Road in San Mateo, or 555 County Center in Redwood City.

Slocum urges all voters to shape their future by casting a thoughtful ballot on Election Day and to come down to Election Central to watch the results roll in. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.